FTC issues endorsement rules for bloggers

The Federal Trade Commission has issued rules requiring bloggers to disclose the receipt of cash or in kind contributions from the subject of their reviews or endorsements. From the FTC release and the connection to unions after the jump:

"The revised guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement," the FTC said in a release. "Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service."

The new rules also require advertisers who use research studies they fund to disclose the funding. Two points here. First neither Nola Employers' Blog nor its blogger has received anything of value for this labor of love. Second, the big push to use Web 2.0 tools in union avoidance likely will be covered by the regulation. Blog "endorsements" supported by employers or unions for campaign purposes will be required to disclose any "material connections."